Head of Partnership Technology Delivery

About IDP

IDP is the global leader in international education services, delivering global success to students, test takers and our partners, through trusted human relationships, digital technology and customer research. An Australian-listed company, we operate in more than 50 countries around the world.

Our team is comprised of over 7,000 people of various nationalities, ages and cultural backgrounds. Proudly customer-first, our expert people are powered by global technology. Together, we offer unmatched services, helping local dreams become realities, all over the world.

Learn more at www.careers.idp.com

Role purpose

The Head of Partnership Technology Delivery is a critical senior leadership role charged with directing the strategic vision, governance structures, and day-to-day operational delivery of the IELTS partnership’s technology ecosystem. This position demands a seasoned technology leader capable of navigating complex multi-organisational landscapes to ensure the continued robustness, scalability, and innovation of one of the world’s preeminent English language testing platforms.

Reporting directly to the Director of Technology Partnerships, this role entails prime accountability for the shared technology infrastructure that supports global entities including the British Council and Cambridge Assessment English. It requires stewardship that balances stakeholder interests, compliance with strict regulatory standards, and technological agility.

Based at our Woburn House corporate office in London, this full-time, permanent role offers an exceptional platform for influencing international education through cutting-edge technology partnerships. The successful candidate will be passionate about leading collaborative, transformative technology initiatives and driving impactful outcomes within a high-stakes and highly regulated environment.

What you'll lead

• Oversee the comprehensive management of the IELTS technology platform shared among partnership organisations to guarantee optimal system performance, fault tolerance under varying loads, responsiveness to evolving requirements, and the ability to support increasing global demand.
• Define, implement, and refine a rigorous technology governance framework that facilitates transparent decision-making, clear responsibility allocation, and accountability across all partner organisations involved in the IELTS ecosystem.
• Develop and maintain a cohesive, forward-looking technology roadmap that aligns with the collective strategic objectives of all partnership members, promoting innovation and anticipating future digital advancements.
• Facilitate seamless cross-organisation collaboration by effectively managing interdependencies, identifying and mitigating risks, and resolving delivery conflicts to ensure smooth integration and shared success.
• Drive operational excellence by enforcing best practices in platform uptime management, vendor relationship oversight, comprehensive service quality controls, and prompt, effective incident response mechanisms.
• Ensure robust oversight of risk management protocols, compliance with global data privacy and security regulations, cybersecurity standards, and continuous safeguarding of data integrity within partnership technology platforms.
• Build and nurture strong, ongoing engagement with senior technology and business leaders worldwide to foster transparency, encourage joint problem-solving, and elevate the maturity of the partnership’s technology capabilities.

What you bring

• Proven excellence in leading and delivering complex, high-impact technology programmes within intricate, multi-stakeholder, and multi-organisational frameworks, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and visionary leadership.
• Deep expertise in establishing and maintaining technology governance frameworks, advanced risk management strategies, and ensuring adherence to compliance standards relevant to expansive international technology partnerships.
• Comprehensive understanding of enterprise architecture, cloud and on-premises platform technologies, Agile and DevOps methodologies, emphasizing continuous integration, delivery, and improvement practices.
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a variety of senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries, and to build consensus that drives shared objectives.
• Experience within partnership or consortium-led delivery models, particularly in managing joint-ownership technology environments across global teams, is highly desirable.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence and adaptability to traverse diverse organisational cultures and political landscapes, tailoring leadership and communication styles to build trust, foster collaboration, and manage complex dynamics.
• Strong strategic mindset and problem-solving capability to foresee challenges and proactively implement effective mitigation plans within a dynamic global context.
• A steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and continuous professional development that encourages a culture of innovation, respect, and shared achievement.

Why this role

• Lead the strategic and operational delivery of a critical technology ecosystem influencing one of the world's foremost English language testing platforms.
• Collaborate closely with globally recognised partners within a mission-driven organisation that champions international education and lifelong learning.
• Assume a visible and influential leadership position, driving global technology outcomes and shaping the strategic future of technology-enabled educational services.
• Play a vital role in the ongoing evolution and innovation of a shared digital platform with significant international reach and impact.

This is an exceptional opportunity for professionals who thrive in complex, collaborative environments and want to deliver transformative technology solutions that positively affect millions around the globe.